Arsenal defender William Saliba is getting some big praise in the European media today.
The compliments come from World Cup champion Emmanuel Petit, who was interviewed by German outlet Wett Freunde.
The ex-midfielder had a long conversation about several players, especially those in the Premier League, and was asked about a couple of Arsenal stars.
Specifically asked about Saliba’s development, Petit made it clear he’s a fan of his, and highlighted many of his qualities.
He said: “Saliba is one of the best central defenders in England. He’s a warrior. He radiates a lot of calm and personality on the pitch. He has made progress in reading the game and managing depth.
“He relied a bit on his strength and speed, but he has now adapted to the demands of English football. With his physical size, he could contribute more on offensive free kicks, similar to John Terry or Rio Ferdinand. He will continue on his path, I have no doubt about that.”
Petit was also asked whether the duo made by Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães is the best duo in the Premier League, and talked about how strong they are together.
He added: “Both were already excellent in 2022/23, but William Saliba was out of action for weeks due to injury, but this season they have developed a bit further, so that they hardly allow any chances for the opponent and complement each other perfectly. It’s certainly unpleasant for any striker in the world to come up against this duo.”
Arsenal made a big investment when signing Saliba from Saint-Étienne for €30m in 2019, before loaning him back there, and then sending him on temporary spells to OGC Nice and Olympique Marseille later.
The patience was worth it, as the defender has become an important play for Mikel Arteta, now with 36 appearances made this season.
He’s now valued by Transfermarkt at €75m, and is well protected by the Gunners with a contract running until 2027.
